Author: The Associated Press

Minnesota’s Naz Reid Wins NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year Award, Edging Malik Monk in Close Vote

Reid averaged career highs of 13.5 points and 5.2 rebounds in 81 games.

NEW YORK (AP) — Naz Reid was having a productive season as a reserve when the Minnesota Timberwolves needed him in the starting lineup while playing without All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns. Reid was excellent in that role, too, helping the Timberwolves to the second-best season in franchise history. Reid was rewarded with the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year on Wednesday,…

Biden Says The US Is Rushing Weaponry To Ukraine As He Signs A $95 Billion War Aid Measure Into Law

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that he was immediately rushing badly needed weaponry to Ukraine as he signed into law a $95 billion war aid measure that also included assistance for Israel, Taiwan and other global hotspots. The announcement marked an end to the long, painful battle with Republicans in Congress over urgently needed assistance for Ukraine, with Biden promising…

Airlines Will Now Be Required To Give Automatic Cash Refunds For Canceled And Delayed Flights

(AP) — The Biden administration issued final rules Wednesday to require airlines to automatically issue cash refunds for things like delayed flights and to better disclose fees for baggage or canceling a reservation. The Transportation Department said airlines will be required to provide automatic cash refunds within a few days for canceled flights and “significant” delays. Under current regulations, airlines decide how long a delay…

Timberwolves Take 2-0 Lead on Suns Behind 25 Points and Ace Defense from Jaden McDaniels

The teams head to Phoenix for Game 3 on Friday night.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jaden McDaniels scored 25 points for a career best in the playoffs and spearheaded another stifling defensive performance by the Minnesota Timberwolves in a 105-93 victory over the Phoenix Suns to take a 2-0 lead in their first-round series on Tuesday night. Mike Conley and Rudy Gobert each added 18 points to help the Timberwolves offset the…

Minnesota State Senator Arrested On Suspicion Of Burglary

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A state senator and former broadcast meteorologist was arrested on suspicion of burglary early Monday in the northwestern Minnesota city of Detroit Lakes, police said. Democratic Sen. Nicole Mitchell, 49, of Woodbury, was being held in the Becker County Jail on suspicion of first-degree burglary. Formal charges were still pending Monday afternoon, Detroit Lakes Police Chief Steve…

Walz Appointments Give The Minnesota Supreme Court Its First Female Majority In Decades

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Gov. Tim Walz named two women to the Minnesota Supreme Court on Monday, which will give the state’s highest court its first female majority in three decades. When they take their seats in the coming months, all seven justices will have been appointed by Democratic governors. Walz elevated Minnesota Court of Appeals Judge Theodora Gaïtas to replace…

Biden Is Marking Earth Day By Announcing $7 Billion In Federal Solar Power Grants

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is marking Earth Day by announcing $7 billion in federal grants for residential solar projects serving 900,000-plus households in low- and middle-income communities. He also plans to expand his New Deal-style American Climate Corps green jobs training program. The grants are being awarded by the Environmental Protection Agency, which unveiled the 60 recipients on Monday. The projects are expected…

The House Passes Billions in Aid for Ukraine and Israel After Months of Struggle; Next is the Senate

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House has approved $95 billion in foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel and other U.S. allies in a rare weekend session as Democrats and Republicans banded together after months of hard-right resistance over renewed American support for repelling Russia’s invasion. With an overwhelming vote Saturday, the $61 billion in aid for Ukraine passed in a matter of minutes, a strong…

US And UK Issue New Sanctions On Iran In Response To Tehran’s Weekend Attack On Israel

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. and U.K. on Thursday imposed a new round of sanctions on Iran as concern grows that Tehran’s unprecedented attack on Israel could fuel a wider war in the Middle East. The sanctions were meant to hold Iran accountable for its weekend attack and to deter further such activity. But the practical impact is likely to be limited…

USA Basketball Announces its Men’s Team for the Paris Olympics

Timberwolves forward Anthony Edwards is one of the 12 players to make the roster.

USA Basketball studied every men’s basketball game it has played for about two decades and a clear trend eventually appeared. When the defense isn’t good enough, the Americans tend to get themselves into trouble. And the team for the Paris Olympics was built with that in mind. LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Bam Adebayo, Devin Booker, Joel Embiid, Jayson…

Marc-Andre Fleury Signs a $2.5M Extension with the Wild to Return for Next Season at Age 40

Fleury is 17-14-5 with an .895 save percentage that is the lowest of his 20-year career.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Wild signed goalie Marc-Andre Fleury to a one-year, $2.5 million contract extension on Wednesday, bringing back the veteran for his age-40 season. Fleury, who turns 40 on Nov. 28, has had a prolific season in which he passed Patrick Roy for second place behind Martin Brodeur on the NHL ‘s all-time list in…

Potential Jurors Called Into Courtroom For Start Of Trump’s Historic Hush-Money Trial

NEW YORK (AP) — The historic hush-money trial of Donald Trump got underway Monday as dozens of prospective jurors packed into a courtroom where the former president will answer to charges that he falsified business records in order to stifle stories about his sex life. The first criminal trial of any former U.S. president will unfold as Trump vies to reclaim the White House,…

Biden Administration Sets First-Ever Limits On ‘Forever Chemicals’ In Drinking Water

(AP) — The Biden administration on Wednesday finalized strict limits on certain so-called “forever chemicals” in drinking water that will require utilities to reduce them to the lowest level they can be reliably measured. Officials say this will reduce exposure for 100 million people and help prevent thousands of illnesses, including cancers. The rule is the first national drinking water…

Packers Will Face Eagles in Brazil in Friday Night Season Opener

This will mark the Packers’ second international game in the last three years.

GREEN BAY, Wis.- (AP) The Green Bay Packers will play the Philadelphia Eagles when the NFL holds its first regular-season game in Brazil on Sept. 6. The matchup in Sao Paulo will mark the first time since 1970 that the NFL has played a Friday night game on the season’s opening weekend. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell already had said in…

U.S. Announces $138 Million In Emergency Military Sales Of Hawk Missile Systems Support For Ukraine

WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department has greenlighted an emergency $138 million in foreign military sales for Ukraine to provide critical repairs and spare parts for Kyiv’s Hawk missile systems. The U.S. announced the move Tuesday saying that Ukraine has an urgent need for the maintenance support to keep the missile system running. The announcement follows a similar, small-sized round…

Michigan School Shooter’s Parents Sentenced To At Least 10 Years In Prison

PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) — A judge sentenced the parents of a Michigan school shooter to at least 10 years in prison Tuesday for failing to take steps that could have prevented a “runaway train” — the killing of four students in 2021. Jennifer and James Crumbley are the first parents convicted in a U.S. mass school shooting. They were found guilty of…

Trump Declines To Endorse A National Abortion Ban, He Says Limits Should Be Left To The States

NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump said he believes abortion limits should be left to the states, in a video released Monday declining to endorse a national ban after months of mixed messages and speculation. “Many people have asked me what my position is on abortion and abortion rights,” Trump said in the video posted on his Truth Social site. “My view…

Huge Crowds Await A Total Solar Eclipse In North America

MESQUITE, Texas (AP) — Millions of spectators along a narrow corridor stretching from Mexico to the U.S. to Canada eagerly awaited Monday’s celestial sensation — a total eclipse of the sun — even as forecasters called for clouds. The best weather was expected at the tail end of the eclipse in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, as well as New Brunswick and Newfoundland…

President Joe Biden Will Unveil His New Plan To Give Student Loan Relief To Many New Borrowers

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will announce his latest effort to broaden student loan relief next week for new categories of borrowers, according to three people familiar with the plans, nearly a year after the Supreme Court foiled his administration’s first attempt to cancel debt for millions who attended college. Biden will detail the plan Monday in Madison, Wisconsin, where the…

What To Know About Next Week’s Total Solar Eclipse In The US, Mexico And Canada

(AP) — North America is on the verge of another masking of the sun. Monday’s total solar eclipse will make landfall along Mexico’s Pacific coast and cross into Texas and 14 other U.S. states, before exiting over Canada. It will last almost twice as long, with an even wider audience, than the total solar eclipse that stretched coast-to-coast in the…

Tanner Bibee, Guardians Relievers Strike Out 15 in a 4-2 Victory Over the Twins

Twins starter Pablo López (1-1) gave up four runs — three earned — in 5 2/3 innings.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Tanner Bibee and the Cleveland bullpen had 15 strikeouts to put the clamps on Minnesota’s bats, Steven Kwan had three hits and the Guardians spoiled the Twins’ home opener with a 4-2 victory Thursday. Bibee (1-0) matched his career high with nine strikeouts, allowing one run over 5 1/3 innings. Four relievers followed, with Emmanuel Clase working…

In Swing-State Wisconsin, Democrat Hustles To Keep Key Senate Seat Against Trump-Backed Millionaire

NEW GLARUS, Wis. (AP) — Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin, whose “go everywhere” 2018 campaign strategy became a model for how to win in battleground Wisconsin, knows her road to victory this year against a multimillionaire Republican supporter of former President Donald Trump goes through places like New Glarus. The bucolic village of 2,200, founded by Swiss immigrants and famous for its Spotted…

What To Know About The Latest Bird Flu Outbreak In The US

(AP) — A poultry facility in Michigan and egg producer in Texas both reported outbreaks of avian flu this week. The latest developments on the virus also include infected dairy cows and the first known instance of a human catching bird flu from a mammal. Although health officials say the risk to the public remains low, there is rising concern, emerging in part from news…

Brewers’ Chourio Hits 1st Career Homer, but Twins Rally for 7-3 Victory

Ryan Jeffers hit a tiebreaking three-run drive to cap a five-run seventh inning.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Jackson Chourios became the youngest player in six years to hit a home run but it wasn’t enough for the Milwaukee Brewers, who lost to the Minnesota Twins 7-3 on Wednesday as Ryan Jeffers hit a tiebreaking three-run drive to cap a five-run seventh inning. Rhys Hoskins also went deep for the Brewers, who lost their first…

The Buffalo Bills Agree to Trade Top Receiver Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans

Diggs and the Texans are set to visit the Vikings this upcoming season.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills are trading their top receiving threat, Stefon Diggs, to the Houston Texans in a deal that was agreed to on Wednesday. In announcing the trade, the Bills acquired the Texans’ second-round pick in the 2025 draft, which Houston acquired in a trade with Minnesota. Houston also acquired Buffalo’s sixth-round pick in this…

Chourio Hits RBI Single in First Home Plate Appearance, Brewers Beat Twins 3-2 and Improve to 4-0

Milwaukee is 4-0 for the fourth time after winning its first 13 games in 1987 and its first five in 1978 and 2006.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Jackson Chourio singled in a run in his first American Family Field plate appearance, Christian Yelich homered and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Minnesota Twins 3-2 on Tuesday to open a season with four straight wins for the first time since 2006. Chourio stepped to the plate with the bases loaded in the third inning after consecutive…

Brewers Beat Mets 3-1 Behind Yelich and Peralta as Tempers Flare in Season Opener

Touted prospect Jackson Chourio had a terrific major league debut for the Brewers, getting his first hit and driving in a run.

NEW YORK (AP) — Christian Yelich homered, Freddy Peralta pitched six splendid innings and the Milwaukee Brewers threw a one-hitter to beat the New York Mets 3-1 in their contentious season opener Friday. Tempers flared at Citi Field when Brewers newcomer Rhys Hoskins — a Mets nemesis during his days with the NL East rival Phillies — slid hard into…

Lopez Shuts Down Royals as Twins Begin Defense of AL Central Title with 4-1 Win

After taking Friday off, the Twins send RHP Joe Ryan to the mound against Royals RHP Seth Lugo on Saturday.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Pablo Lopez admitted to feeling some anxiety when the Twins ace stepped on the mound to face the Royals on opening day. It didn’t calm him down any when Maikel Garcia homered off him three pitches later. The All-Star right-hander eventually managed to get his nerves under control, holding Kansas City to just three more…

Packers Sign Former Vikings Kicker Greg Joseph to Provide Competition for Anders Carlson

Joseph has been the Vikings’ main kicker since 2021.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Veteran kicker Greg Joseph has signed with the Green Bay Packers after spending the past three seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. The Packers announced the Joseph signing on Thursday. His arrival provides competition for Anders Carlson, who struggled with consistency as a rookie kicker last season. Joseph, 29, went 24 of 30 on field-goal attempts…

Glen Taylor Says the T-Wolves are No Longer for Sale, Lore and A-Rod Say it’s Seller Remorse

Forbes valued the Timberwolves at $2.5 billion in its latest projections for NBA clubs published at the beginning of the season.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The ownership transfer of the Minnesota Timberwolves slammed to a halt when Glen Taylor declared on Thursday he won’t take the final step of his drawn-out $1.5 billion deal to hand Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez the majority stake because they didn’t meet all of the deadlines in the sale conditions. Lore and Rodriguez, who agreed to…

Phillies-Braves and Brewers-Mets Openers Postponed a Day to Friday Due to Rainy Forecast

With wet weather expected much of Thursday in Queens, the Mets announced Wednesday the game was pushed back to Friday at 1:40 p.m.

NEW YORK (AP) — Baseball openers in New York and Philadelphia were postponed a day until Friday because of rainy forecasts in both cities. Pete Alonso and the New York Mets were scheduled to host the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday afternoon, a day featuring the first full slate of major league games this year. The Los Angeles Dodgers and San…

Biden Administration Will Lend $1.5B To Restart Michigan Nuclear Power Plant, A First In The US

(AP) — The federal government will provide a $1.5 billion loan to restart a nuclear power plant in southwestern Michigan, officials announced Wednesday. Holtec International acquired the 800-megawatt Palisades plant in 2022 with plans to dismantle it. But now the emphasis is on restarting it by late 2025, following support from the state of Michigan and the Biden administration. Gov. Gretchen…

Six Missing After Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapse When Struck By Ship

BALTIMORE (AP) —BALTIMORE (AP) — A container ship lost power and rammed into a major bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday, causing the span to buckle into the river below and plunging a construction crew and several vehicles into the dangerously cold waters. Rescuers pulled out two people, but six others were missing. The ship’s crew issued a mayday call moments…

Court Agrees To Block Collection Of Trump’s Massive Civil Fraud Judgment If He Puts Up $175M

NEW YORK (AP) — A New York appeals court on Monday agreed to hold off collection of former President Donald Trump’s more than $454 million civil fraud judgment — if he puts up $175 million within 10 days. If he does, it will stop the clock on collection and prevent the state from seizing the presumptive Republican presidential nominee’s assets while he appeals….

Kate, Princess Of Wales, Says She Has Cancer And Is Undergoing Chemotherapy

LONDON (AP) — Kate, the Princess of Wales, said Friday she has cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy. Her condition was disclosed in a video message recorded on Wednesday and broadcast Friday, coming after weeks of speculation on social media about her whereabouts and health since she was hospitalized in January for unspecified abdominal surgery. Kate asked for “time, space and privacy” while…

Justice Department Sues Apple, Alleging It Illegally Monopolized The Smartphone Market

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department on Thursday announced a sweeping antitrust lawsuit against Apple, accusing the tech giant of engineering an illegal monopoly in smartphones that boxes out competitors, stifles innovation and keeps prices artificially high. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in New Jersey, alleges that Apple has monopoly power in the smartphone market and leverages control over the iPhone to…

The Spring Equinox Is Here. What Does That Mean?

(AP) — Spring is here — officially, at least. The vernal equinox arrives on Tuesday, marking the start of the spring season for the Northern Hemisphere. But what does that actually mean? Here’s what to know about how we split up the year using the Earth’s orbit. What is the equinox? As the Earth travels around the sun, it does so at…

Crafts Retailer Joann Files For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy As Consumers Cut Back On Pandemic-Era Hobbies

NEW YORK (AP) — Fabric and crafts retailer Joann has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, as consumers continue to cut back on discretionary spending and some pandemic-era hobbies. In a Monday statement, the Hudson, Ohio-based company said that it expected to emerge from bankruptcy as early as the end of next month. Following this process, Joann will likely become…

Wisconsin Voters To Decide On Banning Private Money To Help Fund Elections

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin voters are set to decide next month whether to make it unconstitutional to accept private grant money to help administer state elections, one of two Republican-backed ballot measures that Democrats say are meant to make it harder to conduct elections in the presidential battleground state. The constitutional amendments on the state’s April 2 ballot also include a…

A Supreme Court Ruling In A Social Media Case Could Set Standards For Free Speech In The Digital Age

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a busy term that could set standards for free speech in the digital age, the Supreme Court on Monday is taking up a dispute between Republican-led states and the Biden administration over how far the federal government can go to combat controversial social media posts on topics including COVID-19 and election security. The justices are hearing arguments in a lawsuit filed by…

Second Man Charged in Connection With 2005 Theft of Ruby Slippers Worn in ‘The Wizard of Oz’

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A second man has been charged in connection with the 2005 theft of a pair of ruby slippers that Judy Garland wore in “The Wizard of Oz,” according to an indictment made public Sunday. Jerry Hal Saliterman, 76, of Crystal, Minnesota, was charged with theft of a major artwork and witness tampering. He did not…

Vikings Acquire Extra 1st-Round Pick at No. 23 from Texans in Trade for Pair of 2nd-Rounders

The Vikings now have the 11th and 23rd overall selections.

EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings acquired Houston’s first-round pick in a pre- draft trade Friday, giving them the 11th and 23rd overall selections as potential capital toward their next franchise quarterback. The Vikings sent their second-round pick and one of their sixth-round picks for this year and their second-round pick in 2025 to the Texans in exchange for…

In A First, Vice President Harris Visits Minnesota Abortion Clinic To Blast ‘Immoral’ Restrictions

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris visited a Planned Parenthood clinic on Thursday, marking what her office said was the first time a president or vice president has toured a facility that performs abortions, as the White House escalates its defense of reproductive rights in this year’s election. “Right now, in our country, we are facing a very serious…

Woman Charged With Buying Guns Used In Minnesota Standoff That Killed 3 First Responders

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Federal authorities say a woman has been charged with illegally buying guns used in the killings of three Minnesota first responders in a standoff at a home in the Minneapolis suburb of Burnsville, where seven children were inside. Officers Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge, both 27, and firefighter-paramedic Adam Finseth, 40, were slain during the standoff. Their memorial…

Dollar Tree To Close Nearly 1,000 Stores, Posts Surprise Fourth Quarter Loss

(AP) — Dollar Tree swung to a surprise fourth-quarter loss and will close nearly 1,000 stores after the discount retailer slashed the value of a rival chain it acquired almost a decade ago. Dollar Tree plans to close about 600 Family Dollar stores in the first half of this year and 370 Family Dollar and 30 Dollar Tree stores over…

House Passes A Bill That Could Lead To A TikTok Ban If Chinese Owner Refuses To Sell

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House on Wednesday passed a bill that would lead to a nationwide ban of the popular video app TikTok if its China-based owner doesn’t sell, as lawmakers acted on concerns that the company’s current ownership structure is a national security threat. The bill, passed by a vote of 352-65, now goes to the Senate, where its prospects are unclear….

Texans Agree on $49 Million Deal with Former Vikings Star Pass Rusher Danielle Hunter, AP Source Says

Hunter had a career-best 16 1/2 sacks last season for Minnesota. He’s reached double digits in sacks five times in eight years.

HOUSTON, Texas.- The Houston Texans have agreed with four-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Danielle Hunter on a $49 million, two-year contract, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press. The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract can’t become official until the new league year begins Wednesday, said Hunter is getting $48 million guaranteed….